Appeal after rare bird of prey goes missing from Cumbria

The bird had been satellite-tagged as part of a protection project

Police and the RSPB are appealing for information following the disappearance of a satellite-tagged bird of prey in Cumbria.

The hen harrier, named Manu, was one of a nest of two chicks monitored and protected by the Northumberland Hen Harrier Protection Partnership and tagged as part of the RSPB’s EU-funded Hen Harrier LIFE+ project in July this year.

Manu’s tag had been functioning perfectly until it suddenly stopped on the morning of October 18.

Data from Manu’s tag indicated he had been in the same location near Denton Fell, on the Cumbria/Northumberland border, for around three weeks.

However, the last signal was sent from Blenkinsopp Common, east of Brampton, shortly before 10am and he has not been seen or heard of since.

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